Terminal ejector device

ABSTRACT

A device for ejecting snap-in terminals from a connecting block releaseably positioned within the device includes a plurality of plungers which are reciprocably movable relative to the terminals. A slide is reciprocably movable relative to the plungers by an air cylinder or other source of motive power and has a plurality of pawls mounted thereon for engaging the plungers. A keyboard is used to preset individual ones of the pawls for engaging associated plungers, then the air cylinder is actuated to advance the slide and pawls so that the preset pawls drive the plungers forward to engage and eject the terminals. Upon reversal of the operation of the air cylinder, the slide, the pawls, and the plungers are returned to their initial positions. The connecting block is released by and removed from the terminal ejector device upon the insertion of another connecting block into the device.

United States Patent 1 91 Wagner, Jr.

[ TERMINAL EJECTOR DEVICE [75] Inventor: Harry M. Wagner, Jr., Timonium,

[73] Assignee: Western Electric Company,

Incorporated, New York, NY.

[22]. Filed: -Sept.29, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 293,690

[52] U.S.Cl. 29/203 I, 29/206 [51] Int. Cl. H05k 13/00, 823p 19/04 v [58] Field of Search 29/203 P, 203 H,

29/203 R, 203 HC, 206

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,075,283 l/1963 Jansch 29/206 X 3,131,464 5/1964 Weigel 29/203 P 3,222,766

12/1965 Camargo 29/203 u 5] 1 Jan. 8, I974 Priinary Examiner-Thomas H. Eager Attorney-J. B. Hoofnagle, Jr.

571 1 ABSTRACT A device for ejecting snap-in terminals from a connecting block releaseably positioned within the device includes a plurality of plungers which are reciprocably movable relative to the terminals. A slide is reciprocably movable relative to the plungers by an air cylinder or other source of motive power and has a plurality of pawls mounted thereon for engaging the plungers. A keyboard is used to preset individual ones of the pawls for engaging associated plungers, then the air cylinder is actuated to advance the slide and pawls so that the V preset pawls drive the plungers forward to engage and eject the terminals. Upon reversal of the operation of the air cylinder, theslide, the pawls, and theplungers are returned toltheirinitial positions; The connecting block is released by and removed from the terminal ejector device upon theinsertion of another connecting block into the device. i

1 Cl im 7 rawin PATENTEDJAH 8 1914 31.783486 SHEET 2 W 2 TERMINAL EJECTOR DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to devices for removing snap-in fastenings from an object. More particularly, this invention relates to devices for removing snap-in terminals from a connector and to an ejector'device capable of removing any one or combination of snap-in terminals from an electrical connecting block.

2. Description of the Prior Art Connecting blocks having snap-in terminals are frequently used to interconnect electrical components and circuits, particularly in the field of telephony. Since the individual snap-in terminals may be removed and replaced if they are damaged or otherwise defective, their use obviates the necessity of discarding. as-- manufactured connecting blocks or of replacing and rewiring connecting blocks already in use.

Snap-in terminals are frequently removed manually, for example, by using a hammer to dislodge the termi nals on an individual basis. However, because the terminals may be small and closely spaced, and because there may be occasion to replace several terminals at one time, their removal may be an exacting and timeconsuming process.

There are available manually operated, hand-held devices suitable for removing snap-in terminals individually. Again, however, the removal of a number of terminals is a time-consuming process. Thus, whether the terminals are removed manually or with these handheld devices, the repair of large numbers of the connecting blocks may be an excessively lengthy operation.

It may thus be appreciated that there exists a need for a device which is capable of quickly removinginasingle operation any one or any combinationof defective snap-in terminals from a connecting block.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this inventionto provide a new and improved ejector device which releasably positions a connecting block therein, selectively ejects any or all of the connecting block terminals, then releases the connecting block upon the insertion of another block.

In view of the aforementioned need for a device which is capable of removing any one or any combination of defective terminals in a single operation, it is an additional object of this invention to provide an ejector devicethat may be preset for selectively ejecting the terminals.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a self-powered ejector device which is capable of applying sufficient force to remove any or all of the terminals of a connecting block in a single operation, then automatically resettlngitself for another removal operation.

A terminal ejector device illustrating certain principles of the present invention may include a frame and meansfor poisitioning a connecting block thereon for a terminal removal operation. Other distinct means are mounted on the frame for ejecting the connecting block terminals andfor presetting the device to engage and eject predetermined one or ones of the terminals.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partially cut away, of a connecting block of the type having snap-in terminals amenable to removal by a terminalejector device embodying the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial plan view, partially cut away, of the connecting block of FIG. 1', illustrating the positioning of the snap-in terminals within the connecting block.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows, particularly illustrating the snap-in mounting of the. terminals within the connectingblock.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view, partially cut away, of a terminal ejector device embodying the principles of the present invention.

FIG. Sis a elevational view, partially cut away, of the terminal ejector device shown. in FIG. 4, particularly illustrating the cooperation among various elements of the ejector device.

FIG; 6isa sectional. view, taken along the line 66 in FIG. 5 in the direction of the arrows, particularly illustrating the relationship and cooperation among variouselements of the terminal ejector device in releaseably positioning aconnecting block within the terminal ejector device.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial view of FIG. 4, illustratingthe relationship between terminal ejector members of the terminal ejector device and the terminals of a connecting block positioned with the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an example of a connecting block 10 having snap-in terminals 11-11. As is typical of the snap-in .terminals usedin such aconnectingl block 10, the terminals lll"l are mounted within slots l2-l2 formed in aclosely spaced array in the connecting block. 'I he connecting block 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 has slots l2'l 2 f'ormed in an array of tworows andfive columns for mounting up to ten terminals.

To mount a terminal 11 within one of the slots 12-12, the terminal is inserted longitudinally: into the connecting block 1 0from afront side 13 thereof. Referring now to FIG. 2, this insertion is continued until flanges l t-14 formed on the terminal 11 engage shoulders 15-15formed by an enlarged forward portion 16 of the slot 1 2, thereby precluding further insertion ot' the terminal. Atthe same time, and referring to FIG. 3, projections l7--17, which are formed on the terminal 11, snap into place within depressions l8l8 formed along the enlarged forwar'd portion 16 of the slot l 2, thereby normally precluding the terminal from being displaced toward the front side 13 of the connecting block 10: However, the terminal 11 may be ejected out the frontside 13 of theconnecting block 10 by applying sufficient force to arear end 19 of the terminal to overcome the force of engagement between the projections 17-17 and the depressions 18-18.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, there is shown one embodiment of a terminal ejector device, designated generally by the reference numeral 20, constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention for selectively ejecting the. snap-in terminals 11-11 from the connecting block I0'.The ejector device 20 includes a frame 2 1 and a positioning mechanism, designated generally by the reference numeral 22, which is mountedonthe frame for positioning the connecting block 10 within the ejector device for a terminal removal operation. The ejector device 20 also includes a multiplicity of plungers 23-23 and 2424 which are positioned on a plunger support block 26 for reciprocable movement relative to the terminals 11-11 to engage and eject the terminals.

A pair of rails 27-27 are affixed to the frame 21 and mount a slide 28 for reciprocable movement parallel to that of the plungers 23-23 and 24-24. Movement of the slide 28 is controlled by a device such as an air cylinder 29 which is also mounted to the frame 21 and which has a piston rod 31 extending therefrom that is connected to the slide. A multiplicity of plungercontrolling pawls 32-32 are mounted on the slide 28 for reciprocable movement with the slide and for pivotal movement by keys 33-33 of a keyboard 34. With this arrangement, defective ones of the terminals 1 l-ll may be ejected by first depressing keys 33-33 to pivotally preset the pawls 32-32 for engaging theplungers 23-23 and 24-24 corresponding to the defective terminals. Then, the air cylinder 29 is actuated to move the slide 28, the pawls 32-32 and the preselected plungers 23-23 and 24-24 to engage the rear ends 19-19 of the defective ones of the terminals 11-11 and thereafter eject the defective terminals.

Referring further to FIG. 4, the plunger support block 26 is mounted near a first, forward end of the frame 21. The support block 26 has a groove 36 formed in an upper end thereof which supports the plungers 23-23 and 24-24 (Five each of the plungers 23-23 and 24-24 are required for the particular connecting block 10.) for sliding reciprocable movement therethrough along parallel paths. The plungers 23-23 and 24-24 are retained within the groove 36 by a plate 37 which is mounted to the top of the support block 26.

Referring still further to FIG. 4, the plungers 23-23 and 24-24 occupy alternate positions within the groove 36. Referring also to FIGS. and 7, a forward end 38 of each plunger 23 has a notch 39 formed therein; each of the plungers 24-24 has a projection 4l formed thereon which extends laterally over the notch formed in the forward end of the plunger 23 that is situated to the right of the plunger 24. With this arrangement, the single row of plungers 23-23 and 24-24 shown in FIG. 4 is adapted to the two rows of connecting block terminals 11-11. That is, the projections 41-41 of the plungers 24-24 are aligned in a horizontal row directly above a horizontal row formed by the forward ends 38-38 of the plungers 23-23. As a result, the projections 41-41 of the plungers 24-24 and the forward ends 38-38 of the plungers 23-23 form a two-row by five-column array corresponding to the array formed by the connecting block terminals 11-11.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the positioning mechanism 22 includes a feed block 42 which is mounted to the frame 21. The feed block 42 has a positioning slot 43 extending horizontally along the upper side thereof transverse to the paths of movement of the plungers 23-23 and 24-24 for receiving the connecting block 10. As shown most clearly in FIG. 6, the positioning mechanism 22 also includes a mechanism, designated generally by the reference numeral 44, for releasably engaging the connecting block 10. This engagement mechanism 44 includes a pivot arm 46 and a pair of entrance and exit pins 47 and 48, respectively. The pivot arm 46 is pivotally mounted to the feed block 42 below and adjacent to the positioning slot 43 by a pivot pin 49 and is biased in a counterclockwise direction by a spring 51. The entrance and exit pins 47 and 48 are secured to opposite ends of the pivot arm 46 and spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the length of the connecting block 10. The pins 47 and 48 normally protrude above the surface of the positioning slot 43 due to biasing action of the spring 51, and are held in that position by a pin 52 which limits the counterclockwise movement of the pivot arm 46.

As shown most clearly in FIG. 4, insertion of the connecting block 10 into the positioning mechanism 22 may be initiated by placing the block on the positioning slot 43 so that a leading edge of the block engages and depresses the entrance pin 47. That is, the entrance pin 47 and the pivot arm 46 are pivoted in a clockwise direction about the pivot pin 49 (FIG. 6), thereby allowing the connecting block 10 to slide to the right (FIG. 6) along the positioning slot 43. It will be noted that the plate 37 has a plurality of bores 53-53 formed therein for receiving spring-biased dowels 54-54 (FIG. 5) which normally bias the plungers 23-23 and 24-24 to the left and thereby prevent the plungers from obstructing the insertion of the connecting block 10 into the positioning mechanism 22.

Referring now to FIG. 6, as the connecting block 10 is slid to the right along the horizontal positioning slot 43, the block passes over and disengages from the entrance pin 47. This allows the spring 51 to pivot the pivot arm 46, the entrance pin 47, and the exit pin 48 in a counterclockwise direction to return the pins to their normal position protruding into the positioning slot 43. Then, upon an additional increment of movement of the connecting block 10 to the right along the positioning slot 43, the leading edge of the block engages the exit pin 48, thereby positioning the connecting block horizontally so that the columns of terminals 11-11 are aligned with the projections 41-41 of the plungers 24-24 and the forward ends 38-38 of the plungers 23-23.

Referring now to FIG. 5, as the connecting block 10 is slid along the positioning slot 43, the vertical position of the block is such that the upper and lower rows of terminals 11-11 are aligned, respectfully, with the projections 41-41 formed on the plungers 24-24 and the forward ends 38-38 of the plungers 23-23. In addition, the upper side of the sliding connecting block 10 slidably engages the lower side of a guide bar 56 which is affixed to the plate 37. This engagement retains the connecting block 10 against the positioning slot 43, thereby ensuring that the block is held in the desired vertical position when the block is fully inserted into the positioning mechanism 22.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the slide 28 has a pair of plates 59 and 61 affixed thereto. The pawls 32-32 are pivotally mounted by pins 62-62 to the plates 59 and 61 in two staggered rows for alignment with the keys 33-33, which are themselves staggered to decrease the possibility of error in depressing the wrong one of a row of closely spaced keys. To compensate for the spacing between the two rows of pawls 32-32, the plungers 23-23 are of greater length than the plungers 24-24; to compensate for the staggered array within the rows of pawls, alternate ones of the plungers 23-23 and 24-24 have notches 64-64 formed in trailing ends thereof.

Referring still further to FIG. 5, a lower and an upper detent 66 and 67, respectively, are formed in a first, trailing end of each of the pawls 32-32. Spring-biased dowels 68-68 are located within bores 69-69 (only one dowel 68 and one bore 69 is shown) formed in the plates 59 and 61 and normally engage the lower detents 66-66 to hold the pawls 32-32 in the substantially horizontal orientation shown in FIG. 4.

As stated previously, the pawls 32-32 are preset by the keys 33-33 for engagement with the individual plungers 23-23 and 2424. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the keys 33-33 are mounted within a housing 71 affixed to the keyboard 34. The keyboard 34 is itself mounted on standards 72-72 which are affixed to the frame 21. Springs 73-73 (FIG. 5; only one spring 73 is shown) bias the keys 33-33 upwardly and normally hold the keys out of engagement with the pawls 32-32. However, any one or combination of the keys 33-33 corresponding to defective ones of the terminals ll-ll may be depressed against the biasing action of the springs 73-73 to engage corresponding pawls 32-32 and pivot the pawls in a counterclockwise direction about the pins 62-62. Upon release of the keys 28-28, the keys are returned by the springs 73-73 to their initial position, while thepawls 32-32 are held in their pivoted orientation, ready to engage theplung'ers 23-23 and 24-24 corresponding to the defective terminals 1 l-l 1, by engagement of the dowels 68-68 (FIG. 5) with the upper detents 67-67 (FIG. 5). The keys 33-33 of course may be numbered in accordance with any numbering of the terminals ll-ll to facilitate presetting the appropriate pawls 32-32.

Referring further to FIG. 4, air may be admitted to the air cylinder 29 through air lines 74 and 76 to advance or retract, respectively, the piston rod 31 and the slide 28. Upon the admission of air through the air line 74, the slide-mounted pawls 32-32 are advanced toward the plungers 23-23 and 24-24. Referring also to FIG. 5, the forward edges of the preset ones of the advancing pawls 32-32 engage a reset arm 75, which is pivotally mounted to the frame standards 72-72 by a pin 77 and is normally held against a stop 78 by an extension spring 79. The preset pawls 32-32 easily pivot the reset arm 75 against the biasing action of the extension spring 79 and out of the way without being reset to their horizontal positions. Then, upon continued advancement, the preset pawls 32-32 engage the plungers 23-23 and 24-24 corresponding to the defective terminals 11-11 and advance the plungers to engage and eject the defective terminals. Of course, the air cylinder 29 and the pressure of the air supplied thereto may be selected so that the force applied by the piston rod 31 in advancing the pivoted pawls 32-32 and the plungers 23-23 and 24-24 is sufficient to dislodge the terminal projections 17-17 (FIG. 3) from the slot depressions 18-18 (FIG. 3), but is insufficient to eject the terminals 11-11 from the connecting block 10.

After the defective terminals ll-ll are removed, air is admitted to the air cylinder 29 through the air line 76 (FIG. 4) to retract the piston rod 31, the slide 28, and the pawls 32-32. As the preset pawls 32-32 are withdrawn from the plungers 23-23 and 24-24, the spring biased dowels 54-54 return those plungers which were advanced by the preset pawls to their initial, retracted position. Then, upon continued withdrawal of the pawls 32-32, upper surfaces 81-81 of the preset pawls engage the reset arm 75, which is now held in a substantially vertical position against the stop 78 by the extension spring 79, causing the preset pawls to be pivoted in a clockwise direction by the reset arm into their initial, horizontal orientation. The retraction of the piston rod 31 and slide 28 continues until the pawls 32-32 are returned to their initial position of alignment with the keys 33-33.

The connecting block 10 is automatically removed from the positioning mechanism 22 when another connecting block is inserted therein. Referring to FIG. 6, insertion of the second connecting block'10 into the positioningslot 43 depresses the entrance pin 47, the pivot arm 46, and the exit pin 48, thereby releasing the first connecting block and allowing the second block to push the first block past the exit pin and off the feed block 42. As the second connecting block 10 is moved between the entrance pin 47 and exit pin 48 and disengages from the entrance pin, the spring 51 pivots the pivot arm 46 and the pins counterclockwise. The second connecting block 10 may then be moved into abutment with the exit pin 48 to position the connecting block 10 for a terminal removal operation.

To summarize the operation of the terminal ejector device 20, and referring to FIGS. 4 and 6, aconnecting block 10 is placed onto the positioning slot 43 formed in the feedblock 42 to depress the entrance pin 47. The connecting block 10 is then inserted into the positioning mechanism 22 along the positioning slot 43. As shown in FIG. 5, the positioning slot 43 and the guide bar 56 vertically position the connecting block 10 for a terminal removal operation.

Referring again to FIG. 4, when the connecting block 10 is inserted sufficiently far into the positioning mechanism 22 to disengage from the entrance pin 47, the spring 51 pivots the pivot arm 46 counterclockwise, thereby returning the entrance pin and exit pin 48 to their initial positions protruding above the surface of the positioning slot 43. The leading edge of the connecting block 10 is then moved into abutment with the exit pin 48 to horizontally position the connecting block for a terminal removal operation.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the keys 33-33 corresponding to the defective ones of the terminals ll-ll are now depressed to pivot the corresponding pawls 32-32 in a counterclockwise direction. The pivoted pawls 32-32 are heldin their pivoted orientation by the engagement of the spring-biased dowels 68-68 with the upper detents 67-67 formed in the pawls and are thus preset to engage corresponding ones of the plungers 23-23 and 24-24.

Referring to FIG. 4, air is then admitted to the air cylinder 29 via the air line 74 to advance the piston rod 31, the slide 28 and the pawls 32-32 toward the plungers 23-23 and 2424. The reset arm 75 is pivoted in a counterclockwise direction away from the stop 78 by the preset ones of the advancing pawls 32-32 without affecting the orientation of the pawls, then is returned by the extension spring 79 to its normal position against the stop. Upon continued advancement, the preset pawls 32-32 engage corresponding ones of the plungers 23-23 and 24-24 and advance the plungers to engage and eject the terminals ll-ll corresponding to the previously operated keys 33-33.

After the ejection of the defective terminals ll-l 1, air is admitted to the air cylinder 29 via the air line 76 to retract the piston rod 31, the slide 28, and the pawls 32-32. As the preset ones of the pawls 32-32 are retracted, the spring-biased dowels 54-54 return the advanced ones of the plungers 23-23 and 24-24 to their initial, leftward position. Upon continued retraction, the preset pawls 32-32 engage the reset arm 75, which is prevented from pivotingby the stop 78, and are cammed by the reset arm into their initial horizontal orientation. The spring-biased dowels 68-68 (FIG. then engage the lower detents 6666 (FIG. 5) formed in the pawls 3232 to hold the pawls in this orientation. The retraction of the piston rod 31 and slide 28 is continued to return the pawls 32-32 into alignment with the keys 33-33.

Finally, the placement of another connecting block onto the positioning slot 43 depresses the entrance pin 47, thereby pivoting the pivot arm 46 in a clockwise direction to depress the exit pin 48 from engagement with the first block so that the second block may be inserted into the positioning mechanism 22 and push the first one therefrom.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for removing terminals from a connecting block, comprising:

a frame;

means mounted on said frame for receiving and positioning a connecting block in a secured position thereon;

means mounted on said frame for ejecting the terminals of the connecting block positioned on the re- V ceiving and positioning means, and

ineans mounted on said frame for presetting said dislodging means to engage and eject at least a selected one of the connecting block terminals.

2. A device for removing terminals from a connecting block as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

means for releasing a first connecting block positioned within said receiving and positioning means upon the introduction of a second connecting block thereto so that insertion of the second connecting block into said receiving and positioning means removes the first connecting block therefrom.

3. A device for removing terminals from a connecting block as set forth in claim 1, wherein said receiving and positioning means comprises:

a feed block having a slot formed therein for receiving the connecting block to vertically position the connecting block and the connecting block terminals relative to said terminal ejecting means, and

means mounted on said feed block for horizontally positioning the connecting block and the connecting block terminals relative to said terminal ejecting means.

4. A device for removing terminals from a connecting block as set forth in claim 1, wherein said terminal ejecting means comprises:

a plurality of terminal-ejector members slidably mounted on said frame for movement toward the connecting block terminals to engage and eject the terminals;

a plurality of pawls mounted on said frame for sliding movement thereon and pivotally mounted on said frame for engaging said terminal-ejector members upon such sliding movement and thereafter moving said terminal-ejector members to engage and eject the connecting block terminals, and

means mounted on said frame for inparting sliding movement to said pawls.

5. A device for removing terminals from a connecting block as set forth in claim 4, wherein said presetting means comprises:

means connecting with said pawls for selectively piv- 5 oting said pawls such that upon sliding movement thereof said pawls engage and move selected terminal-ejector members, and

means cooperating with said pawls for retaining said pawls in a first orientation for precluding their en- 10 gaging and moving said terminal-ejector members and in a second orientation for engaging and moving said terminal-ejector members.

6. A device for removing snap-in terminals mounted in an array of rows and columns in a connecting block, comprising:

a frame;

terminal-ejector means including a plurality of ejector members mounted for reciprocal movement along said frame;

means mounted on said frame for receiving and positioning a connecting block such that the rows of terminals mounted therein are aligned relative to said ejector members;

means for positioning a connecting block received by said receiving and positioning means such that the columns of connecting block terminals are aligned relative to said ejector members;

means mounted on said frame for moving said ejector members toward the connecting block to engage and eject the connecting block terminals, and means cooperating with said ejector-member moving means for presetting said ejector-member moving means to advance at least a selected one of said ejector members to engage and eject at least a selected one of the connecting block terminals.

7. A device for removing snap-in terminals mounted in an array of rows and columns in a connecting block as set forth in claim 6, wherein said receiving and positioning means comprises:

a guide bar mounted on said terminal-ejector means,

and

a feed block mounted on said frame adjacent said terminal-ejector means and having a slot formed therein beneath said guide bar and transverse to the direction of movement of said ejector members, said slot cooperating with said guide bar for vertically positioning the connecting block therebetween so that the rows of connecting block terminals are aligned with said ejector members.

8. A device for removing snap-in terminals mounted in an array of rows and columns in a connecting block as set forth in claim 7, wherein said connecting block positioning means comprises:

a pivot arm, having first and second pins mounted near opposite ends thereof, pivotally mounted to said feed block beneath said slot and biased upwardly such that said first and second pins normally project into said slot;

said first pin engaging and horizontally positioning the connecting block positioned by said slot and said guide bar, and

said second pin being depressed by the introduction of a second connecting block onto said slot to depress said pivot arm and thereby depress said first pin to release the connecting block positioned thereby.

9. ln a device for ejecting snap-in terminals from a able between a first position which precludes enconnecting block, which comprises: gagement with said plungers and a second position a frame; intersecting said paths of movement of said plungan assembly of plungers mounted on said frame such ers for engagement therewith; that the individual plungers are reciprocably movmeans for reciprocating said slide to advance or reable along parallel paths; tract said slide relative to said plungers, and a positioning mechanism mounted on said frame admeans for pivoting any one or combination of ones jacent a first end of said assembly of plungers for of said pawls from said first to said second position positioning a connecting block so that the connectso that, upon the advancement of said slide, said ing block terminals are aligned in a first-direction 0 pivoted pawls engage and advance corresponding with the paths of movement of said plungers; ones of said plungers, which in turn engage and a connecting block engaging mechanism cooperating eject corresponding ones of the snap-in connecting with said positioning mechanism for positioning a block terminals. connecting block inserted into said positioning 10. In a device for ejecting snap-in terminals from a mechanism so that the connecting block terminals 5 connecting block as set forth in claim 9, wherein said are aligned in a second direction, perpendicular to pawl-pivoting means comprises:

the first direction, with the paths of movement of a keyboard having individual keys corresponding to said plungers and for releasing the connecting and for pivotally moving individual ones of said block upon the introduction of a second connectpawls.

ing block into the positioning mechanism; 11. In a device for ejecting snap-in terminals from a a slide mounted on said frame adjacent a second end, connecting block as set forth in claim 9, further cornopposite the first end, of said assembly of plungers prising:

for reciprocal movement along a path parallel to means for pivoting said pawls from said second to the paths of movement of said plungers; said first position upon the retraction of said slide a plurality of pawls mounted on said slide and correfrom said plunger assembly.

sponding to said plungers, said pawls being pivot- 

1. A device for removing terminals from a connecting block, comprising: a frame; means mounted on said frame for receiving and positioning a connecting block in a secured position thereon; means mounted on said frame for ejecting the terminals of the connecting block positioned on the receiving and positioning means, and means mounted on said frame for presetting said dislodging means to engage and eject at least a selected one of the connecting block terminals.
 2. A device for removing terminals from a connecting block as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: means for releasing a first connecting block positioned within said receiving and positioning means upon the introduction of a second connecting block thereto so that insertion of the second connecting block into said receiving and positioning means removes the first conNecting block therefrom.
 3. A device for removing terminals from a connecting block as set forth in claim 1, wherein said receiving and positioning means comprises: a feed block having a slot formed therein for receiving the connecting block to vertically position the connecting block and the connecting block terminals relative to said terminal ejecting means, and means mounted on said feed block for horizontally positioning the connecting block and the connecting block terminals relative to said terminal ejecting means.
 4. A device for removing terminals from a connecting block as set forth in claim 1, wherein said terminal ejecting means comprises: a plurality of terminal-ejector members slidably mounted on said frame for movement toward the connecting block terminals to engage and eject the terminals; a plurality of pawls mounted on said frame for sliding movement thereon and pivotally mounted on said frame for engaging said terminal-ejector members upon such sliding movement and thereafter moving said terminal-ejector members to engage and eject the connecting block terminals, and means mounted on said frame for inparting sliding movement to said pawls.
 5. A device for removing terminals from a connecting block as set forth in claim 4, wherein said presetting means comprises: means connecting with said pawls for selectively pivoting said pawls such that upon sliding movement thereof said pawls engage and move selected terminal-ejector members, and means cooperating with said pawls for retaining said pawls in a first orientation for precluding their engaging and moving said terminal-ejector members and in a second orientation for engaging and moving said terminal-ejector members.
 6. A device for removing snap-in terminals mounted in an array of rows and columns in a connecting block, comprising: a frame; terminal-ejector means including a plurality of ejector members mounted for reciprocal movement along said frame; means mounted on said frame for receiving and positioning a connecting block such that the rows of terminals mounted therein are aligned relative to said ejector members; means for positioning a connecting block received by said receiving and positioning means such that the columns of connecting block terminals are aligned relative to said ejector members; means mounted on said frame for moving said ejector members toward the connecting block to engage and eject the connecting block terminals, and means cooperating with said ejector-member moving means for presetting said ejector-member moving means to advance at least a selected one of said ejector members to engage and eject at least a selected one of the connecting block terminals.
 7. A device for removing snap-in terminals mounted in an array of rows and columns in a connecting block as set forth in claim 6, wherein said receiving and positioning means comprises: a guide bar mounted on said terminal-ejector means, and a feed block mounted on said frame adjacent said terminal-ejector means and having a slot formed therein beneath said guide bar and transverse to the direction of movement of said ejector members, said slot cooperating with said guide bar for vertically positioning the connecting block therebetween so that the rows of connecting block terminals are aligned with said ejector members.
 8. A device for removing snap-in terminals mounted in an array of rows and columns in a connecting block as set forth in claim 7, wherein said connecting block positioning means comprises: a pivot arm, having first and second pins mounted near opposite ends thereof, pivotally mounted to said feed block beneath said slot and biased upwardly such that said first and second pins normally project into said slot; said first pin engaging and horizontally positioning the connecting block positioned by said slot and said guide bar, and said second pin being depressed by the introduction of a second connecting block Onto said slot to depress said pivot arm and thereby depress said first pin to release the connecting block positioned thereby.
 9. In a device for ejecting snap-in terminals from a connecting block, which comprises: a frame; an assembly of plungers mounted on said frame such that the individual plungers are reciprocably movable along parallel paths; a positioning mechanism mounted on said frame adjacent a first end of said assembly of plungers for positioning a connecting block so that the connecting block terminals are aligned in a first direction with the paths of movement of said plungers; a connecting block engaging mechanism cooperating with said positioning mechanism for positioning a connecting block inserted into said positioning mechanism so that the connecting block terminals are aligned in a second direction, perpendicular to the first direction, with the paths of movement of said plungers and for releasing the connecting block upon the introduction of a second connecting block into the positioning mechanism; a slide mounted on said frame adjacent a second end, opposite the first end, of said assembly of plungers for reciprocal movement along a path parallel to the paths of movement of said plungers; a plurality of pawls mounted on said slide and corresponding to said plungers, said pawls being pivotable between a first position which precludes engagement with said plungers and a second position intersecting said paths of movement of said plungers for engagement therewith; means for reciprocating said slide to advance or retract said slide relative to said plungers, and means for pivoting any one or combination of ones of said pawls from said first to said second position so that, upon the advancement of said slide, said pivoted pawls engage and advance corresponding ones of said plungers, which in turn engage and eject corresponding ones of the snap-in connecting block terminals.
 10. In a device for ejecting snap-in terminals from a connecting block as set forth in claim 9, wherein said pawl-pivoting means comprises: a keyboard having individual keys corresponding to and for pivotally moving individual ones of said pawls.
 11. In a device for ejecting snap-in terminals from a connecting block as set forth in claim 9, further comprising: means for pivoting said pawls from said second to said first position upon the retraction of said slide from said plunger assembly. 